Defying Gravity: How the Voyah Passion S Recreated an Iconic Stunt, And Proved It
Remember back in 2010 when Mercedes-Benz dropped that mind-blowing commercial featuring Michael Schumacher driving an SLS AMG supercar in a complete 360-degree loop upside down inside a tunnel? For years, gearheads debated whether it was pure CGI or a genuine feat of physics.
Fast forward to today, and Dongfeng’s premium EV brand, Voyah, has decided to answer that legendary stunt with a modern, high-voltage twist. In a closed test tunnel in Wuhan, China, an unmodified production Voyah Passion S electric vehicle successfully completed a full upside-down tunnel loop in a single, unbroken take.
And unlike the 2010 commercial, Voyah brought the receipts.
The Physics of the Loop
Executing a stunt like this isn't just about stepping on the gas; the margin for error is razor-thin.
The Speed: The Passion S had to enter the curved tunnel wall at a blistering 130 km/h (approx. 80 mph).
The Angle: The driver maintained a precise 16-degree steering angle throughout the run.
The Force: By balancing speed and trajectory, centrifugal force took over, pressing the tires hard enough against the tunnel surface to comfortably outweigh gravity at the apex. If the car dropped even 3 to 5 km/h below the threshold, gravity would win—and it would fall.
Why This is a Big Deal for EVs
What makes Voyah's attempt even bolder than the original Mercedes stunt is the vehicle itself. We aren't talking about a lightweight, stripped-down track supercar. We are looking at a heavy, fully-loaded production electric crossover equipped with its entire battery pack and smart-driving hardware.
The dual-motor setup pumps out 637 horsepower (475 kW) and 765 Nm of torque, putting instant power down to all four wheels. Furthermore, EVs have a distinct advantage in extreme maneuvers like this: no internal combustion engine means no worries about oil starvation or fuel sloshing while completely inverted. Plus, a low-mounted battery pack creates an ideal center of gravity for handling heavy body transitions from the floor to the vertical wall and across the ceiling.
Fighting the Skeptics in the Era of Deepfakes
Naturally, when the footage dropped, the internet immediately cried foul. In an era where hyper-realistic AI and CGI can fake almost anything on a laptop in an afternoon, spectacle alone isn't enough anymore. Seeing is no longer automatically believing.
To shut down the skeptics, Voyah released an uncut, single-take video of the successful run. Even more compelling? They let out leaked footage of an earlier failed attempt showing a camouflaged prototype failing to maintain speed and crashing down onto its roof. In a strange twist, a genuine crash became the ultimate proof of authenticity.
The Real Takeaway
Beyond the viral marketing genius, the Voyah Passion S stunt sends a sharp message to the global auto industry. A heavy, family-friendly EV—retailing in China starting around the equivalent of 30,000 to 42,000 euros—just pulled off a physics-defying supercar trick.
While legacy automakers spent decades earning performance prestige on traditional racetracks, newer electric brands are rewriting the rulebook overnight through raw engineering capability and viral ambition.
Would you brave a 130 km/h upside-down spin in the back seat of a production SUV? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Source: Read the original report and watch the video coverage over at Electrive.